This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Tim, Patrick, and Izsak sit down and discuss effect of replaying games on how they perceive old favorites and all-time classics. Is Super Paper Mario still as beloved as it once was to a young Izsak? Does Patrick still see the charms of the iconic Ocarina of Time all the years and Zeldas later? This discussion is followed by Patrick’s review of BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!, the latest puzzle platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and starring everyone’s favourite cube. This time, however, the whole gang is playable, and they change things in some surprising ways! In the final segment, the gang tries to make sense of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie trailer. It’s…interesting. For all this and more, have a listen!

The NXpress is a weekly podcast hosted at NXpresspodcast.com in which we discuss all things Nintendo. We stay clear from in-depth game strategies and keep things light. There’s plenty of nostalgia and feedback that will resonate with vintage game collectors; meanwhile modern games are sprinkled in and each week our show revolves around a central theme.

There just never seems to be enough time to talk about everything going on in the world of Nintendo these days, so this week we have another jam-packed show. To kick things off, Rick, Tim, and Patrick are joined by Goomba Stomp contributor Renan Fontes to talk about Rick’s time spent testing the Switch Lite. Just what did out editor-in-chief think about Nintendo’s latest dedicated handheld, and what sort of consumer might it appeal to? Will it entice players away from getting a ‘normal’ Switch?

Next up, Patrick and Renan give a full review of the acclaimed Astral Chain (with a little bit of help from Neuron force rookie Tim). After his initial impressions weren’t so hot, has the game’s in-depth combat and detective-based exploration finally won Patrick over? Or has the tense and irritating situation escalated beyond the point of repair? Regardless, Renan explains how Platinum’s latest action opus just might be his game of the year, especially with the all the post-game content keeping him busy. It’s a well-rounded discussion that should provide a good overview from both a casual and expert position.

In the last segment, the guys pick which announcements from the latest Nintendo Direct got them the most excited. Xenoblade, Return of the Obra Din, and even Super NES games online each make an appearance. So for all this and more on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, have a listen!

This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, things start off with a bang, as Rick, Tim, and Patrick begin what seems like an innocent discussion of the now-delayed Switch release of Decay of Logos, but quickly turn it into a lively debate about the responsibilities of reviewers who have received codes for broken games. Those interested in getting a peek behind the scenes of a website like Goomba Stomp will get a good dose of multiple philosophies on how to handle publishers and what is owed to the readers. It’s a lengthy back-and-forth, but we think it’s worth a listen!

After all the arguing, things settle down with some previews from PAX West, as Tim relates some of the indies he got a chance to try out in person, and Rick delivers a review of FAR: Lone Sails for the Switch. This indie revolving around a child operating a steampunk-ish transport across post-apocalyptic landscapes is reminiscent of Inside, but finds its own way to be one of the most relaxing, enjoyable games of the year so far.

This week’s episode ends with Patrick’s first impressions of Astral Chain. Does he agree with Brent’s enthusiastic review, or has this sci-fi action game not managed to arrest him quite yet? For all this and more, have a listen!

So, after 90-odd hours of battle, drama, comedy, tea time, fishing, lost-and-found, and vigorous recruitment, does Three Houses hold up all the way through to the end — or even beyond? Seeing as how Patrick basically hasn’t been able to put it down since he first picked it up, the short answer is probably yes. However, the guys go into more detail (though spoiler-free), discussing the gameplay differences between pre- and post-time skip, the difficulty for newcomers to the series, and whether it’s worth starting over to play other houses.

After that, we go through some of the bigger titles spotlighted in Nintendo’s Indie World, pick our standouts, and talk about how important it is for indie games to differentiate themselves from the growing mob of titles. Last, Tim reviews The Sinking City, a Lovecraftian detective story involving ancient gods in an atmospheric urban setting. Will fans of the author get more out of this? How do the puzzles work, and are they effective at making the player feel like they’ve solved a mystery? For all this and more, have a listen!

We’ve got a packed house for this week’s show, but the more is merrier when discussing Goomba Stomp’s recently published list ranking the Mario series. How does one assess greatness? It ain’t easy, but there are enough strong opinions to go around to dispute some of the results. Rick, Tim, and Patrick are joined by Izsak Barnette and Game Boys co-host Ryan Kapioski to weigh in with our own picks for the best (and worst) Mario games, reignite the debate between Super Mario 3 and Super Mario World, jab at Sunshine a bit, and detail in general the thoughts that go into ranking games like these.

Before that, however, Izsak Barnette tells us about that time he went crazy and didn’t play video games for a week. What was he thinking, and what did he learn? It turns out that there’s a whole other world of things to do. Who knew? And finally, Ryan gives us the rundown on Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and whether this Switch exclusive has enough combat and fan service to be worth your dollars. It’s another episode full of twists and turns and tangents, so for all this and more, tune in!

NXpress Nintendo Podcast #174: ‘Fire Emblem: Three Houses,’ Hero and The Best Games of the Last 30 Years

After last week’s one-on-one with Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the guys go back to a more traditional show this week, as Rick and Patrick are joined by Izsak Barnette to discuss what we’ve been playing, a new Smash Bros. Ultimate character, and Goomba Stomp’s recently published list of the best games from each year in the past three decades, as voted on by our staff. How many Nintendo titles took the top prize? And how many years were they blanked from even getting nominated? The results are pretty interesting, and may lend some insight as to why so many gamers are loyal to Nintendo consoles, even when it means less gaming options.

Before that, however, Izsak tells us about what’s going on with Hero, the latest DLC for Smash. It turns out there may be some weird quirks to his moveset, but is he overpowered? This somehow leads into a conversation about our personal views on esports in general, but bear with us. Lastly, we close with a few more words from Patrick about the excellent Three Houses, including an assurance to Rick that this game doesn’t ever turn into The Bachelor. And be sure to stick around for Rick’s review of The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia, which apparently is better than just another coffee table book. For all this and more, have a listen!

LFXIV – NXpress IntroNintendosage: General impressions of Hereo from Super Smash Bros. UltimateSuper Mario World SoundtrackMain Event: The Best Games of the Past 30 Years Joe Esposito – “You’re the Best”Bonus Content: The romancing angle of Fire Emblem: Three Houses Fire Emblem: Three Houses Soundtrack

Goomba Stomp is the joint effort of a team of like-minded writers from across the globe. We provide smart readers with sharp, entertaining writing on a wide range of topics in pop culture, offering an escape from the usual hype and gossip. We are currently looking for Indie Game reviewers.